Animal-trap.



Patented Dec. Il, IQOD. M. E. FOREMAN.

A N I M A L T R A P.

(Application led Sent. 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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MARTHA E. FOREMAN, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

ANIMAL-TRAl-.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 663,65 5, datedDecember 11, 1900.

Application filed September 10, 1900. Serial No. 29,495.` (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern):

Be it' known that I, MARTHA ELiZABETH FOREMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ani mal-Traps; and I do herebydeclare the following to beafull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled .in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fishing and trapping, and particularly to thatclass known as traps, impalexnent.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel trap of this classmade in sections by which a number of drops are provided, that aplurality of animals may be captured by a single tra-p.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means forpermitting the springing of the sections independently, so that thesections not sprung may remain set.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide means forpreventing binding of the sections in their descent; also, to provide apositive operation when any of the sections are released.

Finally the obj ect of the invention is to provide an animal-trap whichwill possess advantages in points of simplicity, eficiency, durability,and inexpensive structure.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thedetails of several elements and in the arrangement and combinations ofparts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference Will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein likecharacters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and inwhich- Figure l is a side view in elevation, showing an animal-trapembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View with one segmental portion removed. Figs. 3 and 4Eare detail views.-

the trap is divided, it being necessary that one guide be provided atthe center for each segment of the trap. Stationed near the outer edgeof the base is a series of guides 3, two for each of the segments of thetrap. A ring 3 connects all ot' the guides 3 at the top and with theguides forms a frame structure. The segments et are provided withdownwardly-extending iinpaling-pins, and each corner of the segment isprovided with a hole to receive the guides j ust described. Springs 5encircle the guides and are anchored at one end in the base. The upperends of the springs are attached to the corners of the segments, andwhen said segments are elevated, as they must be when the trap is set,the springs exert a pull, so that when a segment is released it descendswith great speed and contacts with an object standing below, and it-will loe understood that the springs will continue to exert the pulluntil the segment is elevated by an attendant. For the purpose ofelevating the segments I provide each with a handle 6, as clearly shownin the drawings. Each segment is provided with an aperture 7, throughwhich the bait-hook 8 depends, said hook being coiled around thesupporting-wire 9 and terminating in a trigger. The supporting-wire maybe secured in any desired manner-as, for instance, by having the innerends of said Wires attached on the inner guides and the outer ends tothe ring at a point between the outer guides. A hook l0 is secured tothe upper surface of each segment and is engaged by the trigger to holdthe segment elevated and the trap set.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and from theillustration that the number of segments may be varied to suitparticular requirements; Vbut in practice it has been found that threeor four falls' for each base have proven most satisfactory.

Each segment is provided with means for adjusting the impaling-pins withrelation to the lower surface, so that said pins may be set to protrudea greater or less distance. To accomplish this result, the lower plate aof the segment is apertured, and the impaling-pins, which have theirends embedded in the upper traveling plate a', protrude through theapertures. The lower plate a has screwthreaded holes to receive theset-screws a2,

IOO

which are rotatable in the upper traveling plate a', so that as the saidscrews are turned the plate d is elevated or lowered, according to thedirection of rotation of the screws, and as said plate carries theimpalng-pins they can be made to protrude to a greater or less degree.

The construction, operation, and advantages will, it is thought, beunderstood from the foregoingdescription, and it will be noted that thetension of the spring may be varied and that the proportions and otherdetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thescope ot' the claims.

Having fully described the invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent isW l. In an animal-trap, a base, guides extending upwardlytherefrom, impaling-pins projecting from the upper surface of the base,traveling sections acting in conjunction with the base, said travelingsections comprising an upper and lower plate suitably connected,impaling-pins embedded in the upper plate and projecting through holesin the lower plate, means for adjusting the upper plate, and meansforvdrawing the traveling section toward the base.

2. In an animal-trap, a suitable base havin g im paling-pins, guidesprojecting from the base, springs anchored in the base and encirclingthe guides, segments having apertures to receive the guides, and towhich the ments traveling on the guides and having impaling-pins,springs anchored in the base and secured to the segments, and handles onthe segments, substantially as described.

4. In an animal-trap, a base having impaling-pins, and a travelingmember, acting in conjunction with the said base having adj ustableimpaling-pins, substantially as described.

5. In an animaltrap of the impalement type, a traveling membercomprising an up'- per and lower plate adj ustably connected, said upperplate carrying the impaling-pins, said pins projecting below the surfaceof the lower plate, and means for varying the dis# tance of projectionof said pins, substantially as described.

6. In an animal-trap, a base having impaling-pins, a plurality oftraveling members acting in conjunction with the base, guides projectingupwardly from the base, on which the members travel, springs anchored inthe base, coiled around the guides and secured to the lower portions ofthe traveling members, said traveling members each comprising an upperand lower plate, impaling-pins em-l bedded in the upper plate andprojecting through the lower plate; said lower plate having threadedapertures, screws rotatable in the upper plate and operating in thethreads of the lower plate, bait-hooks depending through apertures inthe' traveling members and suspended by rods supported between theguides, and triggers formed with the baithooks and hooks on the uppersurfaces of the traveling sections engaged by the triggers,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aftixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

MARTHA E. FOREMAN. Witnesses: G. F. EDWARDS, JNO. W. HoPPER.

